The Bee’s Top 25 high school football rankings: No. 2 Grant prepares for No. 3 Oak Ridge
Last week’s opening games for Sacramento-area high school football featured a number of showdowns pitting Bee-ranked teams, but none of the outcomes went to the wire.
Casa Roble led Placer 21-0 and won 21-7 in a meeting of Division IV/V powers.
Folsom bolted to a 28-0 first-quarter lead on Monterey Trail and won 35-0 in a meeting of D-I programs. Granite Bay beat Elk Grove 27-13, and a rematch could happen in the D-II playoffs.
D-I Sheldon beat D-IV Capital Christian 26-7 despite attempting just two passes.
The best game might have been between the small-school powers who met in Yolo County, where Woodland Christian rallied from a 14-0 deficit in the fourth quarter to beat Bradshaw Christian 15-14. The gridiron hero here was senior quarterback Gabe Sanchez, who ran for a touchdown and later hit Carter Lang for one with 1:49 left, then winning it with a 2-point conversion run.
This week, the top game is No. 2 Grant visiting No. 3 Oak Ridge in a revival of what was a good nonleague series years ago. Ian Book, now with the Philadelphia Eagles, rallied Oak Ridge past powerhouse Grant in Del Paso Heights as a sophomore in 2013, for example.
Other ranked showdowns this week include Capital Christian visiting Inderkum on Thursday with Casa Roble visiting West Park, Sheldon taking on Vacaville, Whitney visiting Woodcreek and Christian Brothers facing Pleasant Grove on Friday.
The week will be capped by Folsom visiting Northern California No. 1 Serra of San Mateo on Saturday afternoon. Serra represented Northern California in last year’s CIF State Open Division title game, the highest classification in the state, and the Padres are loaded again. Serra beat Folsom 17-12 early last season and also downed De La Salle of Concord 24-21. Folsom beat DLS 24-20 last season in the regular season but lost the rematch in Concord in a NorCal final, 17-14.
The Bee’s Top 25
1. Folsom (1-0)
The Bulldogs pounced on Monterey Trail early to run their record to 11-1 in season openers since 2011. The lines are a strength, the defense sound, and Ryder Lyons looks the part of Next Great Bulldogs QB Leader. Next is Serra.
2. Grant (1-0)
The Pacers rolled McQueen of Reno 52-12 as Wayshawn Parker dazzled in his Grant debut, Jeremiah Tuiileila had two sacks and was unblockable at defensive end, Kingston Lopa had three scores (and two called back), Luke Alexander fired four TD passes and freshman Kobe Shabazz had 11 receptions. Next is Oak Ridge.
3. Oak Ridge (1-0)
The Trojans worked over Spanish Springs of Nevada 54-14 with balance — 278 yards rushing, 287 passing. An unsung leader is Jasen Womack. Blue chipper Kaleb Edwards scored a defensive touchdown. Next is Grant.
4. Granite Bay (1-0)
The Grizzlies have depth to envy, including Lucas Gruia, who stepped in and balanced the offense with steady passing, and Jack Marek, who dashed for a 99-yard kickoff return. Next is Manteca in a rematch of the 2022 D-II section title game won by the Buffaloes.
5. Rocklin (1-0)
In defeating Turlock 31-3, the Thunder found their new QB in Reeve Sloan, who completed 12 of 14 passes for 157 yards; a defensive lineman terror in John Correa; and a runner in Derek Keeley. The D allowed 123 yards. Next is McQueen in Reno.
6. Del Oro (1-0)
Caden Pinnick for the Mayor of Loomis, right? The QB star dazzled with footwork, poise and five touchdowns, as did receiver Tommy Poe with two scoring catches in a 50-34 triumph of Inderkum. Next is Reed of Reno.
7. Vacaville (1-0)
The Bulldogs swallowed Davis whole, rolling 43-0 as Brady Fortunati passed for 321 yards and four touchdowns, two to Levi West, and RB Cristian Diosado reached the end zone twice. Next is Sheldon.
8. Jesuit (0-0)
The Marauders did not play but are gearing up for a rare home night game as Bishop Manogue of Nevada and St. Ignatius of San Francisco come for a visit the next two Friday nights.
9. Elk Grove (0-1)
The defending Delta League champion Thundering Herd showed some promise in the loss to Granite Bay, including Thomas Koi rushing for 81 yards, averaging 10 yards a pop, and booming a 56-yard punt, and David Hale and Ethan Scott rushing for touchdowns. Next is Antelope.
10. Casa Roble (1-0)
The Rams were defensive in halting Placer 21-7, allowing one score in five Hillmen trips into the red zone, forcing five turnovers in all. Cole Owens can catch it, run it and defend it. Next is West Park.
11. Monterey Trail (0-1)
The Mustangs got off to a sluggish start, a show of inexperience but also a credit to the impact of Folsom, which won 35-0 in just the second shutout in the 20-year history of the MT program. Next is St. Francis of Mountain View on Sept. 1.
12. Christian Brothers (1-0)
Mason Vicari had four sacks to pace the defense in a 26-6 win at Reno High. William Littlejohn and Deakon Holden provide tremendous QB depth and competition. Next is Pleasant Grove.
13. Sutter (1-0)
The game started with a horse racing around the track and the rider holding a flag, and the fun continued with a 54-7 victory over Carson of Nevada. Jagger Beck had four TD passes, Max Bringold had three interceptions and Eric St. Onge recorded 2 ½ sacks. Next is Chico.
14. Vista del Lago (0-1)
There’s no shame in losing to three-time defending section champion Manteca, 42-35, and good luck to defenses the rest of the way that want to slow down John Koett and Matt Long after they hooked up for four TD strikes. Camden King had 15 tackles, forced a fumble on the goal line and had an interception. Next is Ponderosa.
15. Woodcreek (1-0)
The option rush attack can be a nightmare and Franklin knows after getting run over 44-7. Austin Katapodis accounted for three scores and Brody Krupp raced in from 42 yards as nine Timberwolves combined to carry the ball 45 times for nearly 300 yards. Next is Whitney.
16. Placer (0-1)
The Hillmen are kicking themselves for the turnovers that helped Casa Roble prevail 21-7, but these are correctable. The effort was there. Next is Roseville.
17. Sheldon (1-0)
Missing his starting quarterback and surrounded by new faces, coach Chris Nixon went with simplicity, attempting just two passes and running with James Kamara (185 yards, two scores), Malakai Savage and Damarea Harden. Next is Vacaville.
18. Capital Christian (0-1)
It’s been a trying week for the Cougars, but the best news is that beloved teammate Trevor Loveall is recovering nicely after collapsing during a scrimmage. Next is Inderkum.
19. Inderkum (0-1)
The Tigers hung with Del Oro for a half before the Golden Eagles pulled away, but they found a QB leader in Rick Cole, who found Lono Chateau for three TD strikes. Next is Capital Christian.
20. West Park (1-0)
The Panthers graduated the house, retooled and stormed to a 28-7 lead en route to a 35-20 win over Laguna Creek. The offense was paced by Ryan Sisson, Mason Johnson and Westin Wade and the D was led by Calvon Johnson and company. Next is Casa Roble.
21. Twelve Bridges (1-0)
The Ragin’ Rhinos don’t just have a cool mascot. They have quite the cool runner in Nathan Crawford, who went for 236 yards and six scores behind a fast-emerging O-Line in a 41-20 win at Nevada Union. Next is Pioneer.
22. Yuba City (1-0)
The Honkers are back in the rankings and earned it with a 45-12 rout of a solid Natomas team. Anthony Young rushed for 79 yards and two scores. Cesar Gonzalez had 14 solo tackles and six sacks. Next is Galena of Reno.
23. Whitney (1-0)
The Wildcats raced past Antelope 38-14 as Logan Sindelar passed for 205 yards and three touchdowns, Lorenzo Young rushed for 139 yards and two scores, and Phoenix Rose and Hayden Wilder had interceptions. Next is Woodcreek.
24. Pleasant Grove (1-0)
The Eagles are feeling the good vibes of a 30-14 win at Lodi, so much so that they hit the weight room the next morning. Marcus Tillotson and Caden Bemis have wheels, breaking scoring plays of 96 and 88 yards, respectively. Next is Christian Brothers.
25. Laguna Creek (0-1)
The Cardinals were in a hole in a hurry and then battled West Park from there, falling 35-20. Next is Franklin.
Bubble: Bradshaw Christian (0-1), Center (1-0), Colfax (0-1), Liberty Ranch (0-0), Marysville (1-0), Pioneer (1-0), River City (1-0), Rosemont (1-0), Sacramento (0-1), Union Mine (1-0), Wood (1-0), Woodland Christian (1-0).
This week’s games
* All games start between 7-7:30 p.m.
Thursday
Capital Christian at Inderkum
Natomas at Marysville
Foresthill vs. Mesa Verde at San Juan
Riverbank vs. Valley at Cosumnes River College
Friday
Grant at Oak Ridge
Bishop Manogue at Jesuit
Vallejo at Center
El Camino at Linden
Weston Ranch at Burbank
Granite Bay at Manteca
Lindhurst at Oroville
Galt at Highlands
Amador at Rio Vista
Cordova at El Capitan
Le Grand at Esparto
Mira Loma at San Juan
Wheatland at Colfax
Reed at Del Oro
Oakmont at Foothill
Vista del Lago at Ponderosa
Sacramento at Wood
Galena at Yuba City
Union Mine at Argonaut
Valley Christian at Millenium
Delta at Vacaville Christian
Sutter at Chico
Dixon at Winters
Pitman at Cosumnes Oaks
Del Campo at Davis
Franklin vs. Laguna Creek
Whitney at Woodcreek
Placer at Roseville
Pioneer at Twelve Bridges
Elk Grove at Antelope
Kennedy at Chavez
Casa Roble at West Park
Woodland Christian at El Dorado
Sheldon at Vacaville
Rocklin at McQueen
McClatchy at Rosemont
Wheatland at Nevada Union
Christian Brothers vs. Pleasant Grove
Liberty Ranch at Rio Americano
Saturday
Folsom at Serra-San Mateo, noon
Lincoln at Rio Linda, 7 p.m.
